Blood Clots Sideline Vickers

Brian Vickers has been hospitalized because of blood clots. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

By Jeff Hood | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

Dover, Del. – NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers could be released from a Washington D.C. hospital as early as today.

Red Bull Racing Team General Manager and Vice President Jay Frye confirmed Friday morning during a press conference at Dover International Speedway that the 26-year-old Vickers experienced discomfort in his chest Wednesday evening while preparing for a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

“He went to the emergency room (Wednesday night) and a CP scan discovered blood clots in his veins, not his arteries,” Frye said. “He’s currently being given medication to dissolve the clots.

“We’re not sure what caused them or how it happened. There’s no timetable for his return.”

Vickers, who is coming off a 10th-place finish in Saturday night’s Showtime Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., was a participant in last year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

But the Thomasville, N.C. native is 20th in the current Cup championship standings heading into Sunday’s Autism 400 at the one-mile concrete oval.